Sony's New 400mm and 600mm G Master Lenses Weigh Less Than a Kilo
Sony's FE 400mm F4.5 GM and FE 600mm F6.3 GM bring super-telephoto reach to wildlife and sports shooters at a fraction of the weight and cost of pro lenses.
Super-telephoto lenses have always been the most painful part of wildlife and sports photography, in both the arms and the wallet. Sony's two new G Master primes are its attempt to fix both, and they are remarkably similar to each other.
Twins, almost
The FE 400mm F4.5 GM OSS and FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS are, according to Sony, the lightest super-telephoto lenses in their class. The 400mm weighs 994g and the 600mm just a single gram more. For comparison, Nikon's equivalent 400mm F4.5 and 600mm F6.3 lenses both top 1kg, and Sony's own faster 400mm and 600mm lenses are far heavier. They share so much, including a lot of the same glass, that it is genuinely easy to grab the wrong one.
Built for fast subjects
Each lens uses two of Sony's linear motors, one for each focus group, and Sony says they can hold focus tracking at up to 120 frames per second or while recording 4K 120p video. Both work with Sony's teleconverters for extra reach. The controls are identical across the pair:
- four focus hold buttons around the barrel and a customisable function ring
- a focus range limiter and full-time manual focus override
- three stabilisation modes, including one for panning and one that keeps the viewfinder steady when tracking erratic subjects
- an 11-blade aperture and 95mm filter thread
Both are dust and moisture resistant, with a fluorine coating on the front element to shed water and grease, and a removable tripod foot.
The price of reach
In the US the 400mm costs US$2,699.99 and the 600mm US$3,699.99, each roughly US$10,000 less than Sony's faster pro equivalents. That makes them a realistic step up for serious enthusiasts shooting birds, surf or motorsport. Check Sony Australia and authorised retailers for local pricing and stock.
Sources: DPReview, Sony Australia. Image courtesy of Sony.
